WARLOCK'S INTERNS

Chapter 14: Underworld Voyage

Rukma came to her senses. She thought she was dead and now she is somewhere in an unknown place. So this was her destiny. How she wished not to die so early, she thought bitterly. Dying like this is a sure sign of sinner. She had indeed sinned, she has supported her elder sister in all her dark deeds and now here she is dead. She only wished she had done better things than indulging herself in the dark magic. It had occurred to her time and again that she is doing wrong, but in spite of that she had done exactly opposite.

“Rukma, Rukma, wake up dear.” Gorma sprinkled some water on Rukma face. She knew if Rukma is going to die, then she will die with fear and nothing else. She knew probably Rukma didn’t even know that she has rescued her before falling down by flying in her broom and catching her at the last moment, but by the time she was already unconscious.

“Where? Where am I? Hell or Heaven?” Finally Rukma opened her eyes.

“Ha ha you are in neither, we are in Under World.” Gorma laughed heartily, she enjoyed her sister’s foolishness.

Rukma gathered herself, “Aha! Thank our Witch mother”, she said aloud and began to think again, she is not dead. She did not want it either. She began to take in her surroundings; they were in what seemed like a dungeon. So at last they have made it to the Underworld, she thought jubilantly.

“But Gorma, we could have used our broom to fly down!”  Rukma stated still being angrier about the earlier action of her elder sister.

“Well, believe me Rukma that was the easiest way to reach Underworld. Moreover, we need our brooms to have enough magic power when we have to fly back to our world. Here take your broom and get up.” Gorma explained. 

Rukma sat up slowly as she took her broom from her sister. She began to look all around her, suddenly, she noticed something move towards them from all around, and she had to squint her eyes for a better vision. 

“Ah! Snakes! Snakes!” She uttered a terrifying scream after realizing that the moving things were nothing but snakes, heaps and heaps of snakes.

“Worry not Rukma, they won’t hurt us - here, all is well now.” Gorma assured her and took out the snake charming powder from her sachet and blew it in the thin air. Soon the snakes began to crawl away from them.

“Thanks Gorma, what’s next?” Relived Rukma stood up.

“We are going to meet the Lord of Underworld.” Gorma started to walk ahead.

**

Mahapitha looked at the three young teens, there were very different from each other but very much same at the heart, he thought. He knew someday their days would cross and they are going to play a major role in something very important, but he didn’t expect it so soon.

“Mahapitha, could you tell us the future?” Vasundari was interested in knowing it.

“Ha ha darling, I am not a Priest. Your very father is one, a great one for that matter.” Mahapitha chuckled at her, he liked her innocence. She a very rare girl, she would never keep anything in her heart.

“But he never tells us anything.” Again Vasundari was very persistent.

“That’s because he is wise. Now then, there is really no use in knowing future.” He wanted them to discourage as much as possible. He knew these kids had a very sensible relationship with the Princess Chitrakshi. The King Maheepati himself had admitted that.

“What shall we do then, Mahapitha?” Atma felt as if they were betrayed, they had expected so much before coming here. They had strongly believed that Mahapitha would do something, but he only made it all worse but telling them to wait for the unfortunate, how ironic, Atma thought very bitterly.

“You do nothing; let the life take its own course.” Mahapitha rubbed his hands gently; he knew it was the best he could offer.

“What about my reading then, was I wrong?” Atma was still confused.

“No, you were not, only you miss interrupted the signs.” Mahapitha knelt in front of Atma and looked at his sad eyes. This boy, he thought bitterly, don’t even know that they are going to play a major role in future. Mahapitha, further wanted Atma to continue nourishing his star reading skills.

“That means, he can read stars, right?” That was small consolation for Bakula.

“He can and he will continue reading it. I too have read it.” Slowly he stood up and began to pace, he thought probably it’s time for him to warn them a bit, let them not be in utter darkness.

“And what is your prediction, Mahapitha?” Atma was curious to know the prediction of great old man, the Warlock of the West.

“I predict -” Mahapitha turned and faced the three eager faces.

“I PREDICT ILL FATE.”

“Ill fate?” Vasundari showed immense fear; she did not wish anything to happen to her dear Princess Chitrakshi.

“Yes, I predict the ill fate of Princess.” Mahapitha sat down on the couch and closed his eyes.

**

King Maheepati looked at his council. They were eager to hear him out. He had personally called a meeting at a very late hour. This just meant something very important, they knew it all. King Maheepati looked very angry too, it was very unlike him. The council wondered in their very minds what could be the matter, is it a threat from the neighbor Sampada King again?

Maheepati looked at the eager faces once again, he has to make proper arrangements, and he has to make sure nothing went wrong. He didn’t want to give a second chance to the people who dared to threaten his existence.

“Strengthen the Palace with more guards. There should not be single unguarded door, be it day or night.” Looking at his Chief Minister Yamil he commanded at last.

“As you wish my King.” Yamil bowed his head; he knew something serious is distracting the King.

“No stranger should be given permission to enter the Palace; Princess Chamber has to be guarded by a special force.” King Maheepati continued to command while pacing.

“Armors should be kept ready; a double circle of guards should be immediately posted outside the Palace.”

He looked at the Chief Commanders of his eighteen regiments. He wanted to alert them all at once. He felt as if he is giving command for a war. But only, this time, a very different kind of war, King Maheepati thought ironically.

“As you wish, my King.” Yamil bowed his head again trying to hide his curiosity. He knew the King would certainly tell them soon.

“I want you all to know that I received a message from the old Warlock about an ill fate that is going to happen soon.”

****